Description

A rhizomatous perennial with slender culms arising from hard round tubers, of sandy places near to water and in flood-plains. Throughout the Region from Mauritania to S Nigeria, and generally dispersed over tropical Africa and into Madagascar.The foliage is edible to stock and provides much-relished grazing (Senegal, 1; Sudan, 2). In Ghana an infusion of the leaves and roots is put into a preparation for treating garli cattle disease (6). The tubers are edible and are aromatic. They are sold in northern markets for the making of fragrant sachets (5) and perfume (4), the Hausa name turare for the dried roots meaning ‘perfume.’ Tunugu in the Hausa names is said to refer to the place in Niger Republic from where much of the marketed produce comes. A number of fragrant-tubered species may be involved. The tubers are also burnt in hut-fires in the Nupe area to create a pleasant smell (3).